ELIZABETH Walter (née Cleave) celebrated her 100th birthday last week.

Elizabeth was born on November 1, 1916 at Hessaford Farm, Kilkhampton to George and Clara Cleave. Elizabeth was the third, of four children, Mary, Ned Elizabeth and Clara.

In 1917 the family moved to Higher Asworthy the farm overlooking Lower Tamar Lake.

Elizabeth and her two sisters were founder members of Kilkhampton Young Farmers’ Club, they also attended St James Church, Kilkhampton.

In 1940 Elizabeth married Jack Walter and they moved in to Tosbury Grove, Hartland, which was an eight-acre smallholding.

On this smallholding Elizabeth and Jack kept all types of farm animals. Jack was a carpenter and wheelwright for the Hartland area, so the farm was left for Elizabeth to run. The main source of income from the smallholding was from the milk from the four cows that they had. From 1941 until Elizabeth hand milked the four cows twice a day, whatever the weather.

Elizabeth was a very strong lady — running the smallholding and bringing up two daughters — Shirley, who was born in 1941, and Jillian in 1947.

Elizabeth also made time to run a small bed and breakfast, at the farm for many years

Elizabeth has four grandchildren and five great grand children.

In 1999, Elizabeth’s beloved husband of 59 years died.

In 2000 aged 84, Elizabeth sold Tosbury Grove then moved into a bungalow in Hartland.

In 2008 Elizabeth had a fall and spent a time in hospital and then in 2008 moved into Trelana Nursing Home in Poughill, where she has been well cared for by all the staff and carers.

Elizabeth has had a truly long and remarkable life seeing so many world changes in her 100 years.

Her daughter Shirley said: “She has always been a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.”